Cittanova Blues Festival
After the unforgettable first Cittanova Blues that put Novigrad on the world map of blues festivals, this year brings an even bigger and longer blues programme. At the end of June, Novigrad becomes the city of blues and, in addition to world performers from Canada/USA, UK, Mali, North Macedonia, and Croatia, it also brings a rich side programme. The musicians who will turn the weekend nights on the main square into an unforgettable experience are world-class stars, while all performances are free of charge.
The first headliner is Philip Sayce, currently one of the best electric guitarists in the world, with a stunning rock/blues style that will perform on 30 June. The following day, to the delight of the local audience, Vlatko Stefanovski, known for his unique combination of traditional Macedonian music with modern jazz and blues, will perform with his trio.
In addition to the performances of top world and national blues performers on the stage of Novigrad’s main square, concerts will also be held at other locations throughout the day. You can enjoy your morning coffee with Blues Morning Coffee and an aperitif before dinner with Sunset Blues, while after the official concert programme, jam sessions will be organised every evening at 9 Pub-Devetka. This year, there will be a premiere of the blues challenge for bands and up-and-coming performers, blues documentary screenings, musical instrument presentations, workshops, a sales exhibition of handmade musical gadgets, and the so-called Blues Train that will allow you to visit local wineries.
The Cittanova Blues festival marks a new chapter in the town’s musical history. What Boško Petrović successfully started some 30 years ago, returns with a new team at the helm and a redefined blues signature. The 2018 and 2019 winners of the Croatian Blues Challenge, Novigrad’s own Denis Makin and Leo Anđelković (The Screaming Wheels), and Davor Hačić, who had the opportunity to prove themselves in Memphis, the mecca of blues, in front of a demanding blues audience and to thrill them, have realized a long-cherished dream of a blues festival in Novigrad that will be talked about for a long time.
